Expert: Yasser - 11/12/2009

Question
The U.S. News television broadcasts are stating that one of the reason given by the Muslim USArmy Major for his killing of other people at Ft. Hood Texas was that the Army was about to send him to Afganistan or Iraq and he did not want to go because there was a possibility that he would be asked to kill other Muslims and that this was outlawed in the Koran.

I have searched the English transliteration of that Holy Book but cannot find such a statement. What would be the Islamic position on a U.S. Military Person who was a Muslim being asked by his/her authorized military authority to kill what was considered by that authority to be a enemy who happened to be a Muslim (Shia, Sunni, or other is not important to the question).

Thank you.

Answer
Hi James,

4:92 And it is not for a believer to kill another believer except by accident. And whoever kills a believer by accident, then he shall free a believing slave, and give compensation to the family; except if they remit it. If he was from a people who are enemies to you, and he was a believer, then you shall free a believing slave. And if he was from a people with whom you have a covenant, then a compensation to his family, and free a believing slave. Whoever does not find, then the fasting of two months sequentially as a repentance from God; for God is Knowledgeable, Wise.

4:93 And whoever kills a believer intentionally, then his recompense shall be Hell, abiding therein, and God will be angry with him, and curse him, and for him is prepared a great retribution

But I must stress that the Koran does not call wicked people "believers". Wicked people who kill and persecute people unjustly are called hypocrites in the Koran. A contemporary example is Osama Bin Laden who thinks he is setting things right but is actually a hypocrite.

2:11 And if they are told: "Do not make corruption in the land," they say: "But we are reformers!"
2:12    No, they are the corruptors, but they do not perceive.

17:33 And do not take a life, for God has made this forbidden, except in the course of justice. And whoever is killed innocently, then We have given his heir authority, so let him not transgress in the taking of a life, for He will be given victory.

In summary, the Koran says that fighting in the cause of justice, or to save innocent people from the wicked is a good thing. Forgiving people instead of taking revenge is always better. Killing innocent people unjustly is a crime.

"...anyone who kills any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he killed all the people. And anyone who spares a life, it shall be as if he spared the lives of all the people..." (5:32)

"And if you punish, you shall inflict an equivalent punishment. But if you resort to patience (instead of revenge), it would be better for the patient ones. (16:26)

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions and I'll be glad to answer them.

God bless

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“And among men are those who purchase idle HADITH (tales) without knowledge to mislead (men) from the Path of God, and make a mockery of it (God’s Path)” [Quran 31: 6]

What most people do not know is that the Islam they mostly see, hear and read about has NOTHING to do with the Koran.

Traditional Islam is based on 2 important sources: Koran & Hadith. Whats Hadith you might ask?

Hadith is a huge hodgepodge collection of the alleged sayings of Muhammad which was compiled 200+ years AFTER the death of Muhammad. Traditional Islam derives most of its laws & rules from THIS body of information. Traditional Muslims believe that these Hadiths are indispensable to their religion & life. So much of importance is paid to these hadiths that very often the Koran is ignored.

And it is from these hadiths that we get extremely nonsensical & barbaric rules & laws like death penalty for adulterers & apostates (although the Koran does not advocate any such punishment), degradation of women, bizarre dress codes for women, killing of those who  insult Muhammad, chopping of hands of thieves etc. I must mention that hadiths also contain  many beautiful teachings too. As I said, its a hodge-podge collection ridden with internal  contradictions.

Criticism of these fanciful stories in hadiths has always existed right from the beginning  but very few muslims care to question its authenticity. They believe that anyone who rejects hadiths and accepts ONLY the Koran is an infidel! You must also realise that most translations of the Koran are also done in the light of these hadiths and in some cases the original meaning of the Koran is twisted to bring it in accord with hadith teachings!

For more about these hadiths please see:
http://free-minds.org/taxonomy/term/2

On the other hand, the Koran is a beautiful book with beautiful teachings. You only have to read it once cover to cover to realise this.

http://free-minds.org/